Device for supporting tubs



J. E. POWERS.

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING TUBS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 191a.

Patented July 15,1919.

flfforne gs THE comm-m puwounnn 416.. wAsl-lmd'rou. n. c.

JOHN E. POWERS, 0F PIKE,.1\TEW YORK.

DEVICE non SUPPORTING TUBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed April 6, 1918. Serial No. 226,991.

To all whom it may concern Be it'known that I, JOHN E. POWERS, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Pike, in the county of Wyoming and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Supporting Tubs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which is more particularly designed for supporting a tub or similar receptacle underneath the counter of a store, so as to permit of conveniently swinging the tub under the counter-top where it is protected and out of the way, or from under this top so that the contents of the tub may be more readily dispensed to customers in grocery stores and elsewhere.

It is the object of this invention to provide a support of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction, easily operable and capable of being readily adapted to counters which vary in height and also to tubs of different height.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved tub support applied to the floor and counter of a store. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking upwardly.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

1 represents thefioor of the building or store and 2 the top of a counter over which the goods to be sold are passed. My improved tub support which is associated with phese parts is preferably constructed as folows:

3 represents an upright shaft or standard which is preferably constructed of hollow or tubular form and arranged between the underside of the counter-top and the floor. This shaft is pivotally supported so that the same may turn horizontally, the preferred means for this purpose consisting of a lower attaching plate 4 which is secured to the top of the floor and provided with an upwardly-projecting pintle 5 entering the lower end of the shaft, and an upper attaching plate 7 secured to the underside of the counter-top and provided with a downwardly-projecting pintle 6 entering the upper end of the hollow shaft. The lower end of the shaft rests on the lower attaching plate which latter serves as a step bearing for the same and the upper pintle is preferably of such length that when its attaching plate is secured to the top of a counter this plntle will engage with the upper end of the shaft a sufficient extent to provide a reliable bearing therefor and still permit of some Variation in the distance from the floor to the counter-top, thereby avoiding the necessity of cutting the shaft accurately to length and enabling the same fittings to be used in connection with counters which vary in height.

The tub which is adapted to be moved underneath the counter-top when not required and from underneath the same when its contents are wanted, is shown by dotted lines at 8 in Fig. 1. This commodity may consist either of butter, lard, jam or similar goods which are usually packed in tubs. This tub is seated at its lower end in a socket which is mounted on theshaft, which socket preferably comprises an upright wall 90f annular form and constructed of a strip or .band of metal which is bent into circular form and has its ends turned downwardly and connected by means of a bolt 10, as shown in Fig.1, or by other suitable means. A supporting arm 11 connects with one end of the band forming this wall. On the adjacent part of the shaft is mounted a supporting collar 12 which is also preferably constructed ofband'metal and has its ends connected by means of a bolt 13 or the like,

so'that this collar is securely clamped to the shaft. One end of this supporting collar is connected with the supporting arm 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The wall of the socket, the supporting arm and the sup porting collar are preferably made of one piece of band metal, thereby producing a very simple and durable construction which is low in cost.

Extending across the space within the lower part of the annular wall of the socket and forming the bottom of the latter, are two bottom bars 1.4:, 15, which are arranged at right angles to each other and connected at their overlying parts by means of a rivet the inner side of the annular wall by means of a rivet while the rear end of the same extends underneath the rear part of this wall.

19' represents an upright inclined brace which has its upper end connected with the rear end of the longitudinal bottom bar 15 and preferably formed integrally therewith.

20 represents a clamping collar secured to the lower part of the shaf and preferably constructed in the form of a split ring of band metal which has its ends turned forwardly in the form of lips and connected with each other by means of a bolt 21. These lips receive between them the lower end of the brace 19 which latter isprovided with an opening through which the bolt 21 passes, so that the latter, serves the double function of connecting the clamping collar with the shaft and also connecting the brace with this clamping; collar. By loosening the bolts 13, 21, the socket which supports the tub may be. raised and lowered on the shaft to suit the requirements, after which the tightening of these bolts securely unites these parts so that the socket and the shaft turn horizontally together. In the operative position of the parts, the tub rests upon the bottom bars 14,15, and is confined there-' on against lateral displacement by the surrounding annular wall.-

n' order to protect the contents of the tub when the latter is not in use, a cover 22 of disk form is preferably provided which is so mounted on the shaft as to be capable of being swung laterally over'the tub, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, or away from the same, as shown by dotted lines in the same figure. Although various means may be provided for pivotally and adjustably mounting the cover on the shaft, those shown in Fig. 1 are suitable and comprise a horizontally swinging supporting arm 23 which is connected at its front end with the top of the cover and a hub 24 journaled on the shaft and connected with the rear end of the cover arm this hub and arm being preferably constructed from a single piece of band metal and the hub being split and its ends connected by means of a bolt 25. Inasmuch as the height of the tub from which goods are being served may vary, it is desirable to make the cover adjustable vertically on the shaft. A simple means for accomplish-f ing this purpose consists of a stop collar 26 which is mounted on the shaft so as to en gage with the underside of the hub and 'ad- V justably secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 27. 7

By means of this tub supporting device it is possible to handle with facility goods which are usually packed in tubs and enables the same to be stored out of the way underneath the counter when not in use and ed to receive said tub and comprising an upright annularwall constructed from a strip of band metal which has its ends connected, an arm formed integrally withone end of said wall, a collar embracing said shaft and constructed of a strip of band metal which has its ends connected and one end of which is formed integrally with said arm, anda bar extending'across the space-within: the lower part of said walland connectedtherewith.

JOHN E. POWERS.

copies of this patent may be' obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fcommissioner 'ot'Patents,

Washington, D. G. e 

